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AQA A Level Psychology - Outline the behaviourist approach. Compare the behaviourist approach with the humanistic approach - Full 16 mark essay
A* AQA A Level Psychology - full 16 mark modal essay - achieved top band (15/16)
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Outline the behaviourist approach. Compare the behaviourist approach with the humanistic approach(16 marks)
According to the behaviourist approach, all behaviour is acquired through interactions with the
environment. Through classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus would be continuously paired with an
unconditioned stimulus to eventually bring about a conditioned response. Pavlov was able to condition
dogs to salivate by continuously pairing the sound of a bell with food until an association was formed
between the two. Operant conditioning explains behaviour as being the sum of our reinforcement history.
In Skinner’s experiment. Hungry rats received a food pellet after accidentally knocking a lever. Receiving
the food pellet acted as positive reinforcement, encouraging repetition of the behaviour. The approach
argues that since all behaviour is learnt through forming associations, when born our minds are ‘tabula
rasa’ (a blank slate) and in order to understand behaviour scientifically, we must focus on what is
observable and measurable.
A difference between the behaviourist and humanistic approach, is that the behaviourist approach is
reductionist whereas the humanistic approach is holistic. The behaviourist approach attempts to reduce
learning and behaviour to a simple stimulus response relationship which can be generalised to both
animals and humans. Breaking down behaviour to distinct components like this has had valuable
applications in real life such as forming the basis of treatments for phobias and other mental disorders.
Although holism has greater depth and validity due to considering the individual as a whole, the
humanistic approach does not align with psychology as a science. It does not allow the establishment of
general laws and therefore has had limited applications in real life. Moreover though breaking down
behaviour into simpler more operationalised components, as done in the behaviourist approach, it
becomes easier to employ scientific methods and investigate theories stated.
The behaviourist approach, unlike the humanistic approach, is scientific. It focuses explicitly on
behaviour that is observable and measurable and ignores cognitive processes involved that have to be
inferred. The use of scientific methods in the behaviourist approach, such as carrying out studies in a
controlled lab setting allow procedures to be easily replicated and establish the reliability of findings.
Untestable concepts such as self-actualisation in the humanistic approach are too vague and difficult to
assess in order to gain any empirical evidence to support it. Therefore by behaviourism being scientific,
its findings are more valuable.
The behaviourist approach is environmentally deterministic. By claiming that we are born as blank slates,
the approach argues that all behaviours are acquired through a series of environmental influences which
we have no control over. Moreover the approach states that free will is an illusion and any choices we
make are the result of our reinforcement history. Behaviours that have previously been positively
reinforced are more likely to be repeated and those that have been punished are not. This contrasts
entirely with the humanistic approach which claims that we have free will and are the active agents to our
own development. This hard deterministic view within the behaviourist approach reduces individual
responsibility and does not align accordingly with the legal system where individuals are held morally
accountable for their crimes.
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